STREET FOOD · KYOTO STREET FOOD TOURS
The good street food tours keep small groups and fill up early. Below: the 15 to book ahead, what each includes and how they differ.
Start near Shijo Bridge, walk through Gion and Pontocho, visit Nishiki Tenmangu, then spend most of the tour sampling Kyoto foods at Nishiki Market. A guide such as Yuki, Yusuke, or Chie leads the small group, with brunch and tour photos included.
“Great tasting and recommendations from our guide Takaya!! He answered all our questions and gave us lots of food tips”
At Maikoya Nishiki in central Kyoto, you choose a traditional kimono, enjoy simple hairstyling, and join a tea master for a guided matcha ceremony. You will learn the ritual’s history, prepare your own tea, sample wagashi sweets, and have time for photographs.
“We really enjoyed this experience! Our hosts were so kind and accommodating and did a beautiful job teaching us the history behind this wonderful tradition. Dressing in kimonos was memorable, plus we really appreciated that the tea rooms were decorated very traditionally, which made us feel like we were having a truly authentic experience. It was also inspiring to be with about 8 other guests, who were from several other countries around the world. In our tea ceremony alone, we had visitors from Russia, Israel, Poland, USA, Argentina, and a few others. Just beautiful that although we all come from such different places, we came together to share this peaceful…”
Spend about three hours with a guide such as Keiko, Takuma, Miku, or Toshi exploring Nishiki Market and nearby Kyoto streets. Taste local foods, learn shrine customs, and browse shops in a group of no more than six. The included samples can replace a meal, though the exact food stops vary.
“My guide was kind and friendly and gave a nice tour. But the company itself was incredibly unhelpful and didn’t seem to care about my experience at all. They provided the wrong starting location and when I reached out to them they send the same wrong directions again and told me there was no refund and stopped all communication despite me contacting them repeatedly. Luckily I thought to look back into the details and I was able to piece together the starting point and found it on my own. Fortunately my guide was still waiting there even though it was almost 45 minutes after start time! Once I explained the…”
At KOTOLILY KYOTO near Nishiki Market, Yurika guides you through matcha preparation, tea etiquette, sweets, and live koto music in English or Japanese. The one-hour small-group session welcomes up to eight people. Kimono photos and a short koto lesson are available for an extra fee.
“Our host Yuriko was absolutely amazing with not only taking us through and letting us be part of the tea ceremony but she is also an accomplished player of the traditional Japanese instrument which she played for us on three occasions in between the tea ceremony, she had a beautiful studio with lovely kimonos on the wall and English was great and I think the reason she does so well os she does not only do the tea ceremony but also playing for us and talking about the history of music as well as the tea ceremony so you actually get two things for the same price as one, well…”
Spend about 90 minutes making Japanese gyoza in a traditional Kyoto townhouse with an English-speaking instructor such as Hama, Maya, Ryo, or Yo. Choose a filling, make wrappers, fold and cook your dumplings, then try Samurai armor for photos if you wish. Aprons are provided.
“We had a great time learning how to make Japanese-style gyoza in the "Gyoza Cooking Class in Kyoto: Traditional Japanese Dumplings" and highly recommend the class if you're interested! Our instructor, Hama, was easy and fun to leaRead more”
Start at 6:30 pm near Kawaramachidori for an evening of yakitori, tonkatsu, sushi, and tempura. Your local guide handles ordering and translation as you visit three food stops in and around Gion. Guides may include Ryu, Misaki, Jay, or Yu, and the tour includes 15 dishes and two drinks.
“It was one of those experiences we’ll laugh about for a long time because it was so bad. First, the time to meet changed, then we couldn’t find the meeting place. We only went to two restaurants. At the first, we had five chicken dishes - nothiRead more”
Join a guide such as Ayu, Toshi, or Takuma for a small-group walk through Nishiki Market, sampling yuba, obanzai, hamo tempura, wagyu steak, and seasonal treats. You will also visit nearby shrines and shopping arcades. Add a 90-minute kimono tea ceremony for a fuller cultural experience.
“We loved pur tour with Nagi! She was really nice and friendly and shared a lot of details. Loved the homemade food and getting to know a local better 🙃”
Spend a short, food-focused outing with an English-speaking TripGuru guide at Daimaru Kyoto’s Depachika hall, Nishiki Market, and Nishiki-Tenmangu Shrine. Expect yuba sashimi, a soy milk donut, Nishiki gyoza, and hamo tempura in a group capped at nine.
“Boris went beyond a standard food tour. He not only provided us with a broad range of delicious and new foods, he shared a wealth of information about the culture and history behind those foods. He was patient with our many questions and a pleasure to spend time with. We highly recommend him.”
Start at Nishiki Tenmangū, then follow an English or Japanese-speaking guide through Teramachi Arcade and Nishiki Market. Over 90 minutes, you’ll sample local foods, learn market customs, and get practical tips from guides such as Kaito and Akino.
“Teppei is really nice and great tour! He explains the culture well and answer our questions.”
Start at Nishiki Market’s western entrance with a private English-speaking guide such as Chie, Momo, or Mio. Sample pickles and market foods, choose donburi ingredients, then take a taxi to a cooking studio and prepare your own meal.
“Great tour to get to know more about Japanese cuisine and Kyoto ingredients. The guide was very attentive to our questions and made the experience a one to remember.”
Meet certified Kyoto guide Roberto at Kyoto Station for a four-hour private tour of Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, and Nishiki Market. Use his iPad explanations to follow samurai and shogun history, then choose lunch from Kyoto’s famous food street.
“Activities were amazing, fantastic insight into the history of the attractions and culture. Value was amazing and 1:1 genuine accomodating attention from Roberto.”
In a small group of up to six, you prepare and cook takoyaki and okonomiyaki with English or Japanese guidance. The one-hour class suits beginners, includes ingredients, an apron, utensils, and a meal. Gluten-free, vegan, halal-friendly, and allergy-safe ingredients are available by request.
“My partner and I had a great time at this private class. It was so nice to be taught how locals cook classic dishes in their own home. Our guides were incredibly friendly and open to all our questions about Japan, and eager to share the experience with us. It is a great idea to prepare both these dishes in a short class as they use similar ingredients and methods, while understanding the nuances of each! Would definitely recommend to anyone keen to make a little bit of Japan when they return home, and to those that want a real refreshing change to the commercialised experiences out there.”
Spend three hours tasting Kyoto’s food at about 10 Nishiki Market vendors. Your English-speaking guide explains seasonal ingredients, Japanese food customs, and the market’s long traditions. Expect seafood, snacks, tea, shopping time, and a small group capped at eight people.
“A very interesting tour with a great guide Rosalia Yoshiko. Thanks to her for all the hints and the stories! I am a big fan of a dried Bonito fish now. :)”
Spend three to four hours walking from Rokkakudo Temple through Yaoyaichi, Daimaru’s food hall, and Nishiki Market. An English-speaking guide, possibly Kaoru or Rikka, introduces 6 to 10 local foods, favorite shops, Kyoto sweets, sashimi, and wagyu skewers.
“We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and very informative guide”
At this 90-minute Kyoto workshop near Karasuma Oike Station, you choose meat or vegetable fillings, learn authentic folding and cooking methods, enjoy one drink and your own dumplings, then take home the recipe. English and Japanese instruction is available, with a samurai photo included.
“Wonderful activity. Highlight of trip. Made dumplings including dough. Requested 1 veggie option and it was great. 8 of us including 2 kids age 11. Highlight for everyone. It was a great evening activity for dinner after coming in on train.”
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